Manchester City talisman Yaya Toure has vowed not to give up in the title race.

The champions' hopes of retaining their Barclays Premier League crown look slim despite cutting Manchester United's lead at the top to 12 points with an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Toure opened the scoring with a neat finish just after the hour, following a rare missed penalty from Chelsea's Frank Lampard, and Carlos Tevez made sure of victory late on with a long-range strike.

It was a spirited response after a run of three league games without a win and Toure is determined to maintain that attitude.

The influential former Barcelona midfielder told City TV: "We are very pleased with the win because that is the most important thing for me.

"We have to keep on going and try and win all our games because we know United are in the top spot.

"We needed 12 wins and we have to keep on going because we don't know the future and you can't say it is finished.

"For the football club and the fans, you can't give up now.

"We have 11 games remaining and in sport you never know what can happen in the future.

"We know we have a big calendar, more difficult than them, but we have to keep on going and try and win matches and not let any points (slip) away."

As the more creative side in the clash at the Etihad Stadium, City deserved their victory but the game hinged on the penalty incident in the 51st minute.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart tangled with Demba Ba to concede the spot-kick but, with the striker moving away from goal, was spared any further punishment by referee Andre Marriner.

Hart made amends for the foul by denying his England colleague Lampard - who had scored his previous 10 penalties - what would have been his 200th Chelsea goal.

City took full advantage of that reprieve as Toure beat two men on a charge into the box and curled a low shot beyond Petr Cech. Substitute Tevez doubled the advantage five minutes from time with a shot from just outside the box.

Although the odds on winning the league remain lengthy, City have at least pulled seven points clear of third-placed Chelsea and have seemingly avoided being dragged into a battle for second.

Toure felt the result was one of the most important of City's season, even if he doubted it was their best display.

He said: "I don't think so but we needed to make a big performance because Chelsea is a big club, a big team with big players and we don't want to leave any more space (behind United).

"It is a very important result and you have to credit all the team, because they performed well.

"If you see the statistics of the game and if you see all the game, you see the defenders made a big, big game and Joe Hart makes a big, big save, and after that we have an option to win.

"I think it was the key moment of the game. If you look at the statistics, Lampard has never missed a penalty like that.

"Joe has made a fantastic save. It was a big performance from all the team and I am proud of that."

Hart was equally determined when asked about City's pursuit of United.

The 25-year-old said: "If United keep on winning there is nothing we can do, if they don't they need to know we are going to be there.

"We never give up, I think we have made that obvious.

"Even if there is one game to go, and it is still 12 points, we will do whatever we can to win the league - even if it is not possible."

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero took the opportunity to speak of his love for the club.

The 24-year-old has shown signs of rediscovering his form of last season lately after being hampered by injuries earlier in the campaign.

Aguero, signed from Atletico Madrid in a club record £38million deal in 2011, said: "I'm very happy at City and I feel very appreciated here which means a lot to me.

"It's been barely more than a year and a half since I've arrived and sometimes I feel like I've been here all my life."